Land Contamination Overview
Marina Barrage building presupposes the division of the basin into three areas: industrial, agricultural and recreation. Industrial region will be featured with chemical contamination, and contamination with heavy metals. Agricultural region is featured with pesticide and herbicide contamination, while recreational area is subjected to littering. The prediction techniques are closely linked with the deep analysis of the activity performed, and
Another method is the comparison of foreign experience associated with land contamination prediction. In fact, other countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia also experience the problem of floods and rainfalls, hence, their experience and contamination rates may be analyzed in order to make general assessments associated with the contamination level in the Marine Bay region. (Dooley, 2005)
The challenges associated with these methods are linked with the presumption that the precise assessment of the contamination level may be performed with the directly aimed chemical analysis of the land samples, while the prediction methods do not offer 100% precision of the analysis. Hence, the problems that are closely linked with these problems should be considered for the precise analysis of the forecasted contamination levels.
Methods and techniques for controlling the land contamination levels are defined by the EIA regulations:
- Defining at least six control points (2 in agricultural region, 2 in industrial and two in recreation zone), and periodically take samples of soils. (Alexandre and Barde, 2004)
- Collection of soil samples at 0.5 and 1.5 m below the ground level.
- Analysis of the samples for contaminants, including Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Lead, and Zinc. (El-Ahraf, Qayoumi, 2004)
Contamination matrix is as follows:
(Nuckols, 2007; Weber, 2006).
The values are given in mg m3 units, and the classification is divided into three classes, depending on the concentration of the contaminants in the soil. In accordance to LaDuke (2007), Class A is close to normal levels of metals and other contaminants, Class B means awareness, and Class C signifies that ecological catastrophe is inevitable. Considering the quantitative approach towards assessing the marina barrage building, the coefficients of land contamination depend on the operations performed. The quantitative index of soil contamination will be defined by the chemical analysis of the samples; though, the contamination parameters should be defined in accordance with the plan chart of the Marina Barrage building process:
(Weber, 2006; Brockett, 2008).
As for the control for polluted waters, which is a part of land contamination control, it should be emphasized that the actual control for contamination level would depend on the population density in the region. Another aspect of land contamination is linked with public health issues. In accordance with Nebel and Wright (2004). The effects of land contamination for public health may be closely linked with the pollution of water with various wastes described above. Hence, the medical inspection services should constantly control the pollution and contamination levels and inform the agencies and organizations responsible for tourism development as well as recreation control and public health monitoring.
Noise Pollution Overview
First, it should be stated that noise pollution sources may be of various origins. This may be originated by construction, monitoring measures and work of the measuring machinery, increase of the tourist flows, work of filtration system etc. In accordance with Prasher and Sułkowski (2002, p. 190), it should be emphasized that the effects of noise pollution are various:
Noise health effects are both health and behavioral in nature. The unwanted sound is called noise. This unwanted sound can damage physiological and psychological health. Noise pollution can cause annoyance and aggression, hypertension, high stress levels, tinnitus, hearing loss, sleep disturbances, and other harmful effects. Furthermore, stress and hypertension are the leading causes to health problems, whereas tinnitus can lead to forgetfulness, severe depression, and at times panic attacks.
Additionally, noise may cause increased vibration levels, which is harmful both for health and for constructions, as materials may be subjected to erosion and destruction under the effect of vibration. As for the environment and biosphere, Harris (2006) claimed that noise may have a negative impact on flora and fauna of the environment, and it may cause birds, animals and representatives of sea fauna migrate as far as possible from the noise source. The same may be stated of insects which pollinate plants. Hence, the noise levels should be decreased in order to prevent the ecological disaster and misbalance in flora and fauna migration. The mitigation measures may cause gaps in a State budget, as these measures involve creation of noise barriers, restriction of speeds, and reconstruction of roads for decreasing vibration levels, improvement of traffic control. As for the Barrage building and fresh water supply, sound isolation materials, and barriers will be required for the equipment, as well as strict schedule of works. Considering the fact that the largest level of noise pollution is registered after the rainfalls, the pumping machinery should be properly isolated in order not to cause discomfort for visitors of the recreation zone.
Methods and techniques of noise pollution control involve measuring the noise level for several times during the non-rainy season, when the pumping machinery is off, and during the rainy season, when it is on. The several measuring points should be defined: in industrial area, in recreation and agricultural areas as well. The pollution levels should be defined for the comfortable recreation and living. Hence, the norms of pollution are as follows
If the norms are exceeded, there are several solutions: minimize the power of the pumping machinery, decrease the amount of vehicles involved, and improve noise isolation measurers.
The implementation of noise regulation system in legislation of the State will inevitably cause the necessity to improve the existing legislative basis, as some norms of noise reduction may contradict the existing civil, administrative, criminal, environmental, and commercial legislations. Thus, as Harris (2006, p. 188) emphasizes:
Noise laws and ordinances vary widely among municipalities and indeed do not even exist in some cities. Numerous conflicts over noise pollution are handled by negotiation between the emitter and the receiver. Escalation procedures vary by country, and may include action in conjunction with local authorities, in particular the police. Noise pollution often persists because only five to ten percent of people affected by noise will lodge a formal complaint.
In the light of this statement, it should be emphasized that the actual importance of noise regulation should be legally stated, as it may be the reliable basis for environmental protection measures, as well as public heath control and monitoring.
Checklists
Land Contamination Monitoring and Mitigation Project
Inspection Control Checklist
Noise Pollution Monitoring and Mitigation Project
Inspection Control Checklist
Reference List
Alexandre, Ariel, and Jean-Philippe Barde. “Land Pollution?.” OECD Observer a.167 2004: 23-26.
Brockett, Charles D. Land, Power, and Poverty: Agrarian Transformation and Political Conflict in Asia. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 2008.
Dooley, Erin E. “Land Pollution Clearinghouse.” Environmental Health Perspectives 113.1 (2005): 27.
El-Ahraf, Amer, Mohammad Qayoumi, and Ron Dowd. The Impact of Public Policy on Environmental Quality and Health: The Case of Land Use Management and Planning. Westport, CT: Quorum Books, 2004.
Harris, Cyril M., ed. Handbook of Noise Control. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 2006.
LaDuke, Winona. All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, 2007.
Nebel, Bernard J., and Wright, Richard T. Environmental Science: The Way the World Works. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 2004.
Nuckols, John R., et al. “Linkage of Pesticide Use Reporting Database with Spatial Land Use Data for Exposure Assessment.” Environmental Health Perspectives 115.5 (2007): 684.
Prasher D, Sułkowski W. The role of otoacoustic emissions in screening and evaluation of noise damage. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 12(2): 183-192. 2002.
Weber, Bruce R. “The Valuation of Contaminated Land.” The Journal of Real Estate Research 14.3 (2006): 379.